Nikon Coolpix 5000

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There must be a mistake. This can’t be the new top-of-the-line Nikon Coolpix. This camera is too conventional and too normal-looking to replace the Transformer-toy Coolpix 995. The $1099 (street price) Coolpix 5000’s magnesium-alloy body is one solid piece, without the 900 series’ trademark swiveling lens design. It’s a little heavy at 12.6 ounces (plus battery), but feels very solid and well built. In place of the swivel-body design, the 5000 features a rotating, swiveling LCD display that offers the same flexibility (and that same Transformer feel) as the 900-series cameras, without the mechanical complexities of a two-piece camera body.

Despite the new look and startlingly conventional body design, the 5 megapixel Coolpix 5000 feels and works much like its predecessors. Whether this is a good thing or not depends on your level of camera expertise. Earlier high-end Coolpix cameras were often criticized for having too many features and functions for beginners. The 5000 adds several new features and controls, making the user interface even more complex than previous models.